USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Metropolitan Boston; a modern history; Volume IV > Part 39
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years of age, to go to work. He became an office boy in the house of Freeman & Vinton, insurance brokers, remaining there for eleven years, when both members of the firm died and the business was consolidated with that of Robert A. Boit, with whom the young man remained, then being a clerk. Some seventeen years later this firm was altered to become Robert A. Boit & Company, with the rising clerk then as special partner, associated in this capacity with Walter S. Gierasel. He finally became a full partner and for the last ten years has been the senior member, with offices located at No. 40 Kilby Street. He is a member of Joseph Webb Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; St. Paul Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Boston Com- mandery, Knights Templar; Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Scottish Rite, Massachusets Consistory. He also belongs to the Boston City Club, the Boston Grain and Flour Exchange, Boston Chamber of Commerce, is a director of the Bi- Protective Department, a member of the Hing- ham Yacht Club, the Boston Board of Fire Underwriters, Insurance Society of Massachu- setts and the Insurance Federation of Massa- chusetts. In politics he is a Republican. Prior to the Spanish-American War he served seven years in the First Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, ranking as sergeant.
Mr. Wilson married, April 25, 1900, Edith G. Fisher, of Boston. Their children are: Gertrude S., Helen, Edith, Doris, and Rob- ert W.
EDWARD H. WOODS-Straight from Harvard University, which gave him the de- gree of Bachelor of Arts in 1914, Edward H. Woods, of West Newton, came to Boston and established himself in the insurance business. He cannot regret it, for today he has, by hard work and unflagging devotion to the interests of his clients and the companies he has repre-
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sented, erected a business edifice of command- ing proportions.
He was born in West Newton, April 30, 1892, a son of Edward F. Woods, of Somerville, who was educated in the public schools there and at Harvard University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1885, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. For a time he was employed in the Maverick National Bank of Boston, then entered the insurance field and became a partner in the firm of Crane and Woods. In 1895 the firm name was changed to Hinckley and Woods and is still active, with the son, Edward H. Woods, one of the partners, of whom further.
Edward H. Woods first worked with the Un- derwriters' Bureau of New England, going with his father's firm in 1916 and becoming a part- ner two years later. He is a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon College Fraternity, of the Institution of 1770, the Hasty Pudding Club, the Owl Club, the Pi Eta Club, Brae Burn Country Club, Marshfield Country Club, University Club, Waban Neighborhood Club, Executive Club, Boston Chamber of Com- merce, Middlesex Club, the Insurance Society of Massachusetts, and the American Legion, Newton Post. In politics he is a Republican. He enlisted in the United States Navy, in July, 1918, serving with the rank of chief yeoman until June, 1919. He won his letter at Harvard on the university tennis team, and is a devotee of that sport. He also is a golf player of abil- ity.
Edward H. Woods married, in 1917, Mar- garet Harvey, of Boston, daughter of William D. Harvey. Their children are: Anne Harvey, and William Harvey.
THOMAS R. YOUNG, who is widely ex- perienced in the insurance business, has be- come an important figure in this field in New England. He is a member of the firm of Field
and Cowles, insurance agents, located at No. 40 Broad Street, Boston, one of the oldest and largest agencies in that city. Mr. Young's rise to his present position is due entirely to his own energy and business acumen. Mr. Young is a prominent clubman, and he takes an active part in the social life of Boston.
Alfred W. Young, his father, who was born in Philadelphia, was a banker there until his death. His mother, who before her marriage was Rebecca Sharp, was also born in Phila- delphia, and is now deceased.
Thomas R. Young was born on March 27, 1875, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He at- tended the public schools and the high school there and, when he completed his education, he took a position in the Philadelphia office of the Westinghouse Electric Company, where he remained for two years. At the end of that time, in 1890, he became associated with the Insurance Company of North Amer- ica, in their main office in Philadelphia, and several years later he opened a marine de- partment for this company at Pittsburgh, where he acted as their marine representative, the territory assigned to him reaching as far west as Kansas and Nebraska. In 1909 he came to Boston, having formed a connection with the firm of Field and Cowles, insurance agents in that city, and his work was such that in 1914 he was made a partner of the firm, in which position he has continued since that time with the greatest success.
Politically, he is a member of the Repub- lican party. He is a member of the Algon- quin Club, the Exchange Club, the Brae Burn Country Club, and the University Club. He is also a member of the Massachusetts In- surance Society, and the Boston Chamber of Commerce. Previous to the Spanish-Ameri- can War he served one enlistment in the Pennsylvania National Guard. He devotes much of his spare time to golf, of which he is very fond.
Thomas R. Young married, in 1900, Henri- etta Pentz, who was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
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OSCAR WILLIAM HAUSSERMANN-
Attainment of success. and standing in the practice of the legal profession has been achieved by Oscar W. Haussermann, a leading Boston attorney, through his unremitting per- severance in hard work such as featured his academic and law school days. He is one of those not too numerous examples of men who have acquired their education according to the severe code of making one's way through col- lege and university on one's own resources. As he looks back over his student years, Mr. Haus- sermann sees still the solid groundwork he laid through study and toil and on which he has been enabled to rear the superstructure of pro- fessional leadership. His association with one of the strong law firms of the city furnishes attest of his standing at the bar and the regard in which he is held by the bench.
Oscar William Haussermann was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, June 13, 1888, the son of Christian John and Caroline (Burkhart) Haussermann, and grandson of Louis Haus- sermann, who came from Germany in 1848 and settled in New Richmond, Ohio. There Oscar's father was born, January 1, 1854, and he now resides at Evansville, Indiana, a retired manu- facturer. Oscar's mother died at New Rich- mond, August 16, 1914, survived by four chil- dren: 1. Charles. 2. Dorothy, married Dr. Harry W. Little. 3. Oscar William, of whom further. 4. Lillian, married Howard Roberts.
When Oscar William Haussermann was an infant his parents took him and the other chil- dren with them to live in Evansville, Indiana. He graduated from the grammar school of that city in 1902 and from the high school in 1906. With characteristic determination and a look- ahead, traits of the family, he packed himself off to Exeter Academy, where he took his preparatory course and was graduated in 1908. Thence he entered Harvard University, where he completed his classical education and was graduated Bachelor of Arts in the class of 1912. Already he had been wooed by the law and his engagement to that profession was consummated at his graduation from Harvard
University Law School in the class of 1916 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. During a part of his student career, in order to help pay his expenses, he taught at the Rumsey Hall School for boys, Cornwall, Connecticut, and while attending Harvard Law School he assisted Professor William B. Munro in the latter's course in modern democratic govern- ment.
Admitted to the bar in Boston, in 1916, he has ever since remained in practice, with the exception of an intervening period of service in the World War. He offered himself for enlistment in May, 1917, was accepted and or- dered to Plattsburg, New York, for training. With his outfit he went overseas in July, 1917, and was a machine-gunner in France. He was honorably mustered out of service in March, 1919.
Returning to Boston, he at once took up the practice of law where he had laid it aside to don the uniform of the army. For the first seven years he was associated with the office of Herrick, Smith, Donald and Harvey, main- taining that connection until January 1, 1927. On that date he opened his own office for practice alone at No. 1 Federal Street, Bos- ton. In May, 1928, he helped form the law firm of Cushing & Haussermann, which has come to the very favorable notice of the bench and bar of the jurisdiction. His reputation as an expert on business law has preceded him outside strictly legal circles, and for the past five years he has been a stated lecturer on that subject at Massachusetts Institute of Technol- ogy. Business law is his penchant, and in re- search, practice and application of this de- partment he may properly be said to have at- tained the status of specialist. He is counsel, director and officer of some fifteen or twenty business corporations in New England.
He is well connected socially and is a mem- ber of the Exchange Club, the St. Botolph Club, and the Harvard Club of Boston, the Milton Club and the Hoosick Whisick Golf Club.
Oscar William Haussermann married, Jan-
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uary 1918, 28, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Eleanor Rodman Drinker, daughter of Rich- ard and Elmyra (Mckinney) Drinker, and they are the parents of children: 1. Oscar Wil- liam, Jr., born August 17, 1921. 2. Caroline, born February 16, 1926. Mr. and Mrs. Haus- sermann and their family have their residence on Allerton Road, Milton.
GEORGE H. DAVIS, in 1919, in association with Albert K. Parker, established the Davis- Parker Company, dealers in wool at No. 236 Summer Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Davis is a man of long and varied experience in the wool industry, personally well known and well liked, and he has contributed in no small degree to the immediate success and subsequent growth of the company. Although they do a general wool business, handling both foreign and domestic wools, they specialize in the selling of gray wool, which is supplied to the textile trade throughout New England and New York State, where their products are favorably known for their excellent quality. Mr. Davis was in the Government service dur- ing the war, and he takes an active part in the social and civic life of his community.
He was born on February 29, 1876, in Ha- verhill, Massachusetts, a son of James and Mary E. (Ordway) Davis, both born at Haver- hill, and both now deceased. His father was engaged in the fish business until the time of his death.
George H. Davis was educated in the pub- lic schools of Haverhill, and the high school there, and later attended the Bryant & Strat- ton Commercial School of Boston. In 1896, when he had completed his education, he en- tered the wool business, working with the firm of G. H. Goodhue and Company, with whom he remained until 1903. In that year, he joined the Swift Wool Company, remaining with
them for two years, after which he became associated with the P. McGraw Wool Com- pany. Three years later he formed a con- nettion with Wright Brothers Company, where he continued for ten years.
When the United States entered the World War, Mr. Davis enlisted, and he served for the duration of the war, working in the wool and yarn department of the Quartermaster's Corps. Upon receiving his discharge, in 1919, he decided to enter business for himself, with the result that the Davis-Parker Company was founded, Mr. Parker acting as president and Mr. Davis as treasurer. The company has continued operations since that time, grad- ually expanding its business.
Politically, Mr. Davis supports the princi- ples and candidates of the Republican party. He is affiliated, fraternally, with the Free and Accepted Masons, in which organization he is a member of St. John's Lodge. He is a member of the Boston Wool Trade Association and of the Boston Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Davis is much interested in golf, in which he frequently seeks relaxation from business. He attends the Harvard Church, of Brookline, Massachu- setts.
In 1905, George H. Davis married Helen F. Brooks, who was born in Haverhill, Massachu- setts. Mr. and Mrs. Davis reside in Brook- line.
OTTO A. LAWTON-Otto A. Lawton, president and treasurer of the Franklin Motor Car Company of Boston, came to this city in 1906 as auditor of a branch here of the H. H. Franklin Manufacturing Company, of Syra- cuse, New York, for which establishment he had worked in that city for five years. He be- came manager in 1908, and two years later purchased the business. He is in the very prime of strong manhood, a virile personality,
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radiates good nature, is a staunch citizen, and a progressive member of the community.
He was born in McLean, New York, March 24, 1885, a son of Joseph and Julia (Seamans) Lawton, his father having been a general store- keeper there, now deceased. Otto was edu- cated in the public schools and at Syracuse University. He then entered business, as has
been described. During the participation of the United States in the World War he served in the Naval Aviation Corps, assigned to train- ing on the Great Lakes. He is a member of the Blue Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; St. Paul's Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of
Boston; De Molay Commandery, Knights Templar; and Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Bos- ton. He also belongs to the Boston Chamber of Commerce; the Boston Athletic Associa- tion; the Commonwealth Country Club; and the Oyster Harbors Club, of Osterville, Massa- chusetts. His church is the Trinity Episcopal.
Mr. Lawton was married, in July, 1927, to Isabel Smith, daughter of Leonard and Jessie Smith.
PERCY E. FROST-Although a native of New Brunswick, Dominion of Canada, Percy E. Frost is, to all intents and purposes, a born American, for his parents came to Stoneham, Massachusetts, when he was a baby, and his life has been spent in the immediate neigh- borhood of Boston, which has been his home since 1912. He is a hustling business man, a staunch friend, a true citizen, well worthy of the faith and admiration that are given him by those with whom he is brought in contact.
He was born in New Brunswick, Canada, December 19, 1885, a son of Eben R. and Julia G. (Watson) Frost. His father was a truckman in Stoneham, Massachusetts, for many years, and died there. The son, Percy,
was educated in the public schools of Stone- ham, and when a boy went to Portland, Maine, where he obtained employment in a garage owned by his brother, A. G. Frost. This was the first automobile garage to be established in the State of Maine. He remained there for five years, then went to the Harmon Au- tomobile Company, in Portland, as salesman, where he worked for two years. In 1912 he came to Boston in the employ of the Frank- lin Motor Car Company as salesman, re- maining for seven years, when he returned to Portland as the representative in that city for the Franklin car. This corporation sent him back to Boston in 1925, to be general manager for the Franklin Motor Car Com- pany, a post he still administers. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, affiliated with Deering Lodge, No. 183, Free and Accepted Masons of Portland; Dorchester Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Portland Council, Royal and Select Masters; St. Albans Commandery, Knights Templar; and Kora Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Lewiston, Maine. He also belongs to the Fern Park Club of Portland, the Portland Club, Boston Chamber of Commerce, Boston Square and Compass Club, and the Needham Golf Club. His church is the Congregational. Mr. Frost's residence is located at No. 168 Homer Street, Newton Center.
Percy E. Frost married, May 21, 1927, Mrs. H. Q. Wheeler, of Portland, daughter of Jo- siah H. and Sallie T. (Blake) Drummond.
PAUL O. CURTIS-All of the active career of Paul O. Curtis, to the present time, has ' been identified with the New England Mutual Life Insurance Company, of which he is now general agent, with office at No. 176 Federal Street, in Boston. Mr. Curtis is a graduate
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of Brown University and is well known in fra- ternal circles.
Albert H. Curtis, father of Mr. Curtis, was born in Harrington, Maine, and has spent his life, to the present time, in the insurance busi- ness. He has been general agent for the New England Mutual Life Insurance Company, with office in Boston, since 1900, and is well known among insurance men in this city and vicinity. He married Nettie B. Canwell, a native of the State of Maine.
Paul O. Curtis, son of Albert H. and Nettie B. (Canwell) Curtis, was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, January 21, 1893, and received his early and preparatory education in the public schools and in Dorchester High School, graduating in 1910. Upon the completion of his high school course, graduating from Hunt- tington School, Boston, in 1911, he matricu- lated in Brown University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1915, receiving at that time the degree of Bachelor of Arts. After his graduation from college he came at once to the New England Mutual Life Insurance Company, with which he has since been identi- fied. He was located for a time in the Boston office as special agent, but since 1917 has been general agent for the company, located at No. 176 Federal Street. Politically, Mr. Curtis gives his support to the principles and the candidates of the Republican party, and he has been active in local public affairs, serving as a member of the School Board of Somer- ville for four years, and has also been a mem- ber of the Board of Aldermen for four years. He is actively identified with several benev- olent institutions and serves as a member and treasurer of the board of trustees of the Horace Mann Benevolent Association, and as trustee of the Boston Benevolent Association of the Deaf. Fraternally, he is a member of St. John's Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; St. Paul's Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Boston Council, Royal and Select Masters; DeMolay Com- mandery, Knights Templar; Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and Omar Grotto, Veiled Prophets of
the Enchanted Realm. He is also a member of the Somerville Lodge, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks; and of Theta Delta Chi, college fraternity. He is well known in club circles, being a member of the University Club, Clarendon Club, and the Somerville Ki- wanis Club; and he is also a member of the Boston Life Underwriters' Association. His religious affiliation is with the Baptist church.
Paul O. Curtis was married, in 1916, to Una M. Bisbee, who was born in Somerville, Mass- achusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis have one child, Albert H. Curtis (2).
EDWIN BIRCHARD COX-Well known and with a large practice in the local and State courts, Edwin Birchard Cox, of Boston, is one of the bright lights of the bar of Mass- achusetts. Still in early middle life, he has before him a career that may well become dis- tinguished beyond anything he has yet ac- complished, satisfactory though that has been. One of the commendable factors of successful practitioners of the law is undivided attention to it, a feature characteristic of this member of the local bar.
He was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, May 15, 1889, a son of the late Edwin Birchard Cox, a trustee, and Mary Lane (Stevenson) Cox, both natives of Massachusetts, the last- named still living. They were the parents of three children, of whom Edwin is the eldest. He received his education in the elementary schools of Brookline and at Volkmann and Demeritte schools, after which he matriculated at Harvard University, and was graduated from that institution with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1911. He then took a post-graduate course at the Harvard Law School and was graduated therefrom with the degree of Bach- elor of Laws in 1914. He was then admitted to the bar and began practice at once. He is a
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Republican in politics, a member of the Uni- tarian church, and makes his residential home in Newburyport, Massachusetts. He has a passion for nature and delights in country motoring, in golf, and in tennis. He is a mem- ber of the Order of Free and Accepted Ma- sons, and of the Ould Newbury Golf Club.
He married, in Newburyport, September 2, 1921, Lydia Elena Trask, of that town, daugh- ter of Henry and Alice (S.) Trask, both living. The children of this union are: Alice Mary, born September 18, 1924; and Eleanor Birch- ard, born March 25, 1927.
PHILIP D. CLARK-For the greater part of his active business career engaged in the wool business in connection with several large Boston firms, Mr. Clark acquired a very thor- ough knowledge of all phases of this business, so that he was admirably fitted to establish himself in business on his own account. This occurred in. 1926, and since then, at first to- gether with a partner and later alone, he has met with great success.
Philip D. Clark was born in Somerville, Massachusetts, April 15, 1897, a son of David Willis and Minnie G. (Dodge) Clark. His father, who was born at Newton Lower Falls, Massachusetts, was connected with the United Shoe Machinery Company until his death in 1901. His mother, who is a native of Bridge- town, Nova Scotia, Canada, is still living. Mr. Clark was educated in the public grammar and high schools of Rutland, Massachusetts, and at Becker's Business College, Worcester, Massachusetts. After having completed his education he entered the employ of the Bos- ton & Maine Railroad, in the maintenance of way department, where he worked for one year. In 1915 he entered the wool business, be- coming connected with the Crimmins & Pierce Company of Boston, of the sales department
of which he was a member until 1920, with headquarters in Chicago. The next year he spent with the Davis-Parker Company, an- other large wool firm, which he represented as a salesman in the West. In 1921 he formed a connection with the T. H. Gray Company of Boston, which firm he represented in the New England territory until 1922. In that year he removed to Gardner, Massachusetts, where he remained until 1926 with the Greenwood As- sociates, chair manufacturers, in the capacity of designer. In 1926 he returned to Boston and there established, together with David A. Klagge, a partnership under the name of Clark and Klagge Wool Company, with offices at No. 184 Summer Street. This partnership con- tinued until January, 1928, when Mr. Clark bought out his partner's interests. Since then the firm name has been P. D. Clark & Com- pany, with Mr. Clark as sole owner, the of- fices continuing at the same address. A general wool business, handling all kinds of foreign and domestic wools, is carried on and the firm also handles a line of noils and waste, the greater part of its business being carried on with Boston wool dealers and the New Eng- land textile trade. Though a comparatively young firm, Mr. Clark's concern enjoys a large and ever-growing business and has made for itself an enviable reputation, chiefly as the result of Mr. Clark's thorough knowledge of the business, exceptional ability and pleasing personality. During the World War Mr. Clark's business career was temporarily inter- rupted, while he served for three months in the Wool Administrator's office at the Quarter- master's Depot in Boston, and later for about five months with the Military Intelligence De- partment in Washington. He is a member of Rufus Putnam Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Rutland, Massachusetts. In poli- tics he is a supporter of the Republican party, while his religious affiliations are with the Protestant Episcopal church. He finds his rec- reation chiefly in all kinds of outdoor sports and he is also very much interested in farming.
Mr. Clark married, September 3, 1921, Doris
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M. Greenwood, a native of Gardner, Massachu- setts, and a daughter of Charles W. and Carrie (Willis) Greenwood. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are the parents of three children: Philip Dwight, Jr., Charles Willis, and Donald Sher- man. The family home is located at No. 305 Albemarle Road, Newtonville, Massachu- setts.
JOSHUA B. CLARK-For the first two years of his active life Joshua B. Clark was employed by the firm of Farnsworth, Hoyt & Company, of Boston. He became associated with the State Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany in April, 1913.
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